The Braves had some conversations with the Rockies about Nolan Arenado before the star was dealt third baseman to the Cardinals, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (subscription required) reports. Rosenthal also sheds some light on one of the most intriguing off-season rumors, the talks between the Rockies and Cubs about a trade involving both Arenado and Kris Bryant. Jason Heyward was also part of the negotiations at one point when the Cubs sought wage compensation for Arenado’s contract, although the Rockies were not interested in adding any money after the 2021 season (marking the end of the current contract from Bryant and when Arenado could have exercised his opt-out clause).
As Rosenthal points out, the Cubs could look back on those conversations as “a what-could-have-been” as they will now be dealing with Arenado in NL Central on a regular basis. From Colorado’s perspective, such a deal might not have been a clear win if a Rockies-bound Bryant had sustained a similar series of injuries that hindered him in the actual 2020 season, but it still could have gotten better reviews than their trading package from St. Louis. “Rival executives remain baffled by the deal,” Rosenthal writes, as the Rox worked themselves rather inexplicably in an unavoidable situation with their best player.
More from the NL West …
- Also from Rosenthal, the Diamondbacks have taken some interest in Eduardo Escobar but the team doesn’t seem to be too interested at the moment. If there is a trade at all, it may not happen until closer to the trade deadline if the snakes don’t conflict, as Arizona would like to give Escobar a chance to rebuild some decent trading value. Escobar struggled to a .212 / .270 / .335 slash over 222 at bats last season, a big step back from his rock-solid performance in 2018/19. Signed for a three-year extension in October 2018, Escobar is also slated to go free next winter, so it has all the more incentive for a year of recovery.
- Brandon belt underwent heel surgery in October, and the Giants did not provide a specific timeline as to when the first baseman might get back into action. Baseball activities president Farhan Zaidi shed a little more light on the topic when he spoke to reporters (including Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area) this week and said Belt was “no security“and only”a possibilityTo play on Opening Day. On the bright side, Zaidi said the team has been happy with Belt’s rehabilitation so far, and more will become known as they watch Belt during Spring Training. Belt has had a great year for San Francisco, although the team should be able to comply in the event of a relatively short absence for Belt, due to the number of players on the roster with experience at first base – Wilmer Flores, Austin Slater, In its reputation, ordinary catcher Buster Posey, and new addition Tommy La Stella.